CVE-2022-33878: A Critical Exposure of Sensitive Information Vulnerability in FortiClient for Mac

CVE-2022-33878 refers to a vulnerability classified as CWE-200, indicating an exposure of sensitive information to an unauthorized actor. This vulnerability affects FortiClient for Mac versions 7.. through 7..5. If exploited, it allows a local authenticated attacker to obtain the SSL-VPN password in cleartext by running a log stream for the FortiTray process in the terminal. This post provides an in-depth analysis of this security vulnerability, including code snippets, links to original references, and exploit details.

Code Snippets and Links to Original References

To begin, let's understand the vulnerability by looking at the code snippets below. Since FortiClient is a closed-source product, we'll use a pseudocode representation to illustrate the vulnerability.

Pseudo-code representation of the vulnerable code snippet

def save_ssl_vpn_password(password):
    log_message("Saving SSL-VPN password: " + password)
    store_password_in_secure_storage(password)

This pseudo-code represents the part of FortiClient where the SSL-VPN password is saved. As seen here, the password is logged as a message before being stored in secure storage. This log message may be exposed as a log stream if an attacker manages to run the FortiTray process.

To verify this vulnerability's existence, here are links to the official CVE and CWE databases, along with the Fortinet advisory regarding this issue:

1. CVE-2022-33878 on the National Vulnerability Database
2. CWE-200: Exposure of Sensitive Information
3. Fortinet Security Advisory - FG-IR-21-204

Exploit Details

To exploit this vulnerability, an attacker must have local access to the target system with valid user credentials. Once logged in, the attacker can use the following command in the terminal to obtain the log stream for the FortiTray process:

log stream --process "FortiTray"

This command enables real-time streaming of logs generated by the FortiTray process. When the SSL-VPN password is saved by FortiClient, a log message containing the cleartext password will be displayed.

Mitigation and Conclusion

Fortinet has released patches addressing this vulnerability in FortiClient for Mac version 7..6 and later. Users of affected versions should update their FortiClient installations immediately to prevent potential exploitation of this security issue.

Users can also reduce exposure by limiting access to their systems and ensuring that log files are protected with strict access controls.

In conclusion, CVE-2022-33878 represents a significant exposure of sensitive information vulnerability in FortiClient for Mac. By understanding the underlying issue, taking appropriate mitigation steps, and staying updated on the latest security advisories, users can protect themselves from potential risks.

Timeline

Published on: 11/02/2022 12:15:00 UTC
Last modified on: 11/04/2022 14:10:00 UTC